Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-22
WILLIAM P. MUNFORD
DEATH OF fKIs wELL-xEovH CITIZEN
OF RICHMOND.
A Good Man and an Earnest CHRIS
tian Worker Gone,
&C., &C, &c.


Colonel William Preston Munford,
custodian OF records OF the Richmond
and Allegheny Railroad Company, and
one OF the most earnest Christian
workers of this city, died at 2:15 o'clock
Yesterday afternoon at his residence
on south Fourth street. near Gamples
Hill. For months past he had been IN
i'll health, and for sixteen days had been
confined TO his bed. In the early stages
of his disease he thought it was rheu.
matte gout; but the physicians called
in to see him pronounced it comph-
cation of heart and kidney diseases.
Three or four days ago his situation
became very alarming, and by yester-
day morning it was evident that ne was
fast passing away. No one was more
conscious of this than himself, and be
spoke of il with great oalmness and OF
his faith and hope in Christ with the
utmost sweetness. He quietly gave
such directions about his affairs as he
deemed necessary, and said that ne
would leave it to his wife to decide
whether he should be buried by the
side of his mother at Shockoe Gene
terry or at Hollywood. He suffered
very much from difficulty in breathing,
but was conscious to within three
minutes of the end. His death was 0
triumphant passage from a world OF
suffering to home of happiness.
THE DECEASED.
Colonel Munford was a son of Will
liam Munford, who was for long time
clerk of the Virginia House OF Dele
gates, and who was man OF ripened
scholarship. He was the author of
translation of the Iliad, which received
the appreciation of many competent
critics, both in Europe and America,
and is, indeed, regarded by many as
the most faithful render ng of the great
poets great poem. Another son of
William Munford, and brother of this
deceased, was George Wythe Munford,
who was also Clerk of the House of
Delegates, and afterwards Secretary of
the Commonwealth and compiler of the
Codes of 1860 and 1868. Another son,
equally worthy, was the father of Ro-
bert B. Munford, Esq, Commissioner
of the Revenue Of this city.
William Munford received a careful
training at the best schools in this city,
where he was born, and was then given
a collegiate education. He was pre-
pared for the bar, but could not have
practiced very long, for near about
forty years ago he became connected
with the James River and Kanawha
canal and was for a great length OF
time its secretary, and his services were
retained by every administration. lie
knew more about the canal than any
man living. He knew the aspirations
OF its projectors, its history, its fran
chises, its route, the people along the
line, the legislation on the subject,
and thousands of other matters
of interest. When the canal was
sold to the Richmond and Allegheny
railroad Company and railroad track
was built upon the tow-path, his ser
vices were continued TO the new or
ganization, and an Office was created
for him and called custodian of the re-
cords. Questions about rights of the
canal and of adjacent property-owners
were ever recurring, and it was part
OF his duty to furnish the information
necessary for correct solution OF the
| difficulties arising. He was faithful
aud conscientious worker, a dear lover
of the old State, and one of the best
| citizens Richmond ever had.
Deceased married Miss Fannie Kent,
daughter of the late Horace l.. Kent,
who survives him.
Before the war Colonel Munford was
prominently identified with the mill
tia companies of Richmond, whence
he derived his military title.
A CHRISTIAN WORKER.
Colonel Munford was an elder in the
First Presbyterian church was promi-
nent in church work there, and for q
great number of years had been the
superintendent and almost the life of
the Sunday school at the penitentiary.
He was identified with nearly every
Protestant charitable institution here.
|. He was sixty-eight years Of age last
August,
He was since its organization an ac-
tive member of the Young Men
Christian Association of Richmond
several times its president was presi-
dent of the State Convention, and was
president of the international COnven'
ton which met in New Orleans in 1860.
He was for nearly twenty years a mem
ber of the International Committee,
Young Mems Christian Association,
chartered by the State of New York.
A PURE MAN.
Colonel Munford had from time tC
time been a valued contributor to the
columns both of the religious and secu
lar press. He was a man of marked
ability, had had the best of educationa
opportunities, and wrote with force and
enthusiasm on such subjects as engaged
his attention. A singer himself, he
few years ago complied for the use o.
the Young Mems Christian Association
book of hymns, which has proved
very acceptable.
He was true Christian worker-in
defatigable, jealous, and ever looking
for new fields of service. He was |
kind and gentle friend and useful anC
pure man.
His funeral will take place tomorrow
from the First Presbyterian church, an'
he will be buried in Hollywood.
The Season OF Lent.
To-morrow Ash Wednesday. will b,